Chairperson Maire George – 087 2424934
Secretary Anita Dowling – 087 9118320
Treasurer Eileen Murphy – 9159447
31/12/14
Ballon and 2014
As 2014 draws to a close Ballon Improvement Group would like to take a moment to thank all of you who have contributed in any way to our community in 2014.
With your help much has been achieved. From Siopa Glas, Tidy Town and Pride of Place point of view we have had a most successful year. ‘Siopa Glas’ project won the top National Award in the first ever EPA Award for Community Groups under the banner of Waste Minimisation. For the second year running we won the County Endeavour Award with a gain of fifteen marks on 2013. At the end of October Ballon was declared overall winner of Co. Carlow in the Pride of Place Competition. This was the icing on the cake for the area as we had previously taken this award in 2012.
None of this would happen except for the hard work done down through the years since Ballon entered the Tidy Town Competition. Big results do not come overnight. It has been a slow process with good forward planning. The whole community can take a bow. Ballon is becoming a better and beautiful place to live and do business in. Our Community Spirit has been’ ignited’ with such things as the New Sports/Community Centre, our excellent Ballon Community Business Service and Siopa Glas. All shops and businesses in the area have provided much support in many different ways.
We must continue to appreciate our hard working volunteers. Our Tus Workers have played a huge role in our success and a big thanks to all. Thanks too to Carlow County Council for assistance throughout the year.
Our interaction with the local school continues to flourish.
As the school works towards it’s fifth Green Flag we published a Biodiversity Calendar for 2015.
Other Groups/Clubs in our area had huge achievments in 2014.. Ballon GAA Club’s huge success in the Leinster Club Championship was tops. The Ladies had a great year as well. Congratulations to you all.
And so, a sincere thank you for your support in 2014.
Ballon Improvement Group would like to wish you and yours a safe and restful Christmas, and all the very best for 2015. Is Feidir linn!
Ballon Improvement Group
Dec. 2014
Ps. Keep up to date with the happening around Ballon through Michael Martin and www.ballonvillage.com. and not forgetting our local weekly newletter via Eileen Murphy at Ballon Business Centre and last but not least Michael Dawson for the Nationalist Notes and the Nationalist Newspaper with Chris Fingleton.
24/12/14
A BIG Christmas present to all walkers on the Ballykealey Ring.
See before and after pictures.
Invalid Displayed Gallery
18/12/14
Ideal to do with children during holidays. Leftover Christmas recipes
16/12/14
Calendars are on sale in Michael McAssey or in Ballon Business Service. Cost €5
13/12/14
December 5th at 6pm our third annual Christmas lights and Carol singing event took place.
Candlelight procession took place from the Church to the Millennium Garden and then to the Crib at Siopa Glas.
The moon smiled down on the faces of the young singers of the KHA school choir. The event was the type that one would wish would never end. Smiles, Carols, lights, ‘Away in a Manger’ around the new Crib at the Siopa Glas all truly magical.
The hot Choclate provided by the volunteers at the Siopa Glas went down a treat.
Thanks to all who turned out and a special thanks to the KHA leaders and the people who provided the music.
PS Do come and visit the Crib outside Siopa Glas on Main St. Ballon.
Even the Garda Barracks gets a light show
5/12/14
BIG/ Siopa pick up two more prizes in Kilkenny
Marie George, Ballon accepts the Endeavour Award in County Carlow from Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly and Evelyn Moynihan, Head of Marketing Strategy, SuperValu at the SuperValu TidyTowns South East Regional Awards ceremony.
Photo: Pat Moore.
Breda Wray, Ballon Improvement Group, Carlow accepts the Waste Prevention National Award from Minister for the Environment Alan Kellu and Mary Frances Rochford, Environmental Protection Agency
at the SuperValu TidyTowns South East Regional Awards ceremony.
Photo: Pat Moore.
30/10/14
Back Row: Cllrs Thomas Kinsella, Ann Ahern, Charlie Murphy, John Murphy. Sinead Abbey, Deputy Pat Deering TD, Marian Doyle, Margaret Lalor, Kathleen Abbey, Cllr. Jennifer Murnane O’Connor
Front Row: Kathleen Percy, Cathaoirleach Fergal Browne, Maire George, Chair of BIG, Breda Wray
2/10/14
Water Day at Siopa Glas
On Wednesday 1st October the Ballon NS 5th and 6th class Green Schools Committee visited Siopa Glas. The water meters have been turned on today and Siopa Glas and Ballon NS have shown ways to save water and money. The boys and girls have coloured in pictures to show examples of saving water. We believe putting in the meter will make us more aware about saving water.
By Jake Somers and Eamon Lalor
Andrew Synoradzki, Laurna McGrath, Jake Somers, Eamon Lalor
all members of the Ballon National School Green Committee.
30/9/14
Get best value for a range of services – www.bonkers.ie
Good advice for saving water – www.taptips.ie
20/9/14
Breda Wray, Máire George, Minister Alan Kelly, Kathleen Percy, Marian Doyle, Jackie Nolan
Having received their award
10/9/14
Read the story of the award – Waste to Resource
9/9/14 – Waste Prevention Award
BIG took another step up the ranks of the Achievers by receiving the Waste Prevention Award at the Tidy Towns Awards at the Helix Theatre in Dublin today.
This is a notable achievement by the Group
They are to pick up a Special Endevour Award later at Kilkenny Castle – more later
Maire George, Marian Doyle, Kathleen Percy, Breda Wray, Jackie Nolan
Outside the Helix 8/9/14
Read the report for Ballon Here
23/8/14 – Heritage Week Event
National Heritage Week 2014 Event by Ballon Improvement Group.
Our aim was to discover the past and build the future.
The third staging of a re-enactment of the 1800’s Hedge School (Scoil Scairte) took place at the Slí na Sceach/Hedgerow Walk, The Forge, Kilbride on Saturday the 23rd August.Seventeen children aged five to twelve took part in the very lively school experience.
The legend has it that small boys were dressed as girls at that time so that the fairies thought that they were all girls! So that is why all the participants were dressed the same.
A badger set with fresh tracks was just one of the signs of the natural environment encountered by the children. Blackberry picking , walking to the hedge-school barefooted, painting while using their mouths only, writing on old slates, song and dance, prayer and yummy Forge boiled potatoes with bottles of fresh milk were all experienced during the Re-enactment.
Bernie Mullins was the visiting School Master and told the story of Arthur Mc Murrough Kavanagh of Borris House who was born in 1831. He was born without any arms or legs. But this did not stop him leading a very full life.
The Cast
Joseph Gibbons, Grainne Kelly, Hannah Kelly, Aoifa Kearns,
Padraig Nolan, Sami Bermingham Salter, Ella Dowling,
Sarah Buckley, Elizabeth Kelly, Eamon Kelly, Orla Kelly,
Ciara Buckley, Charlie Bermingham Salter, John Buckley,
Kate Murphy, Grace Buckley, Diarmuid Nolan.
Production: Bernie Mullins, Breda Wray, Máire George, Mary Jordan
Photography: Michael Martin.
Thanks to all who took part and helped in any way. Is féidir linn!
Some stills
18/8/14
Looks like we’re up for an award
5/8/14
Summer Camp
2/8/14
These lovely early eating apples, Beauty of Bath, have fruited for the first time in their pride of place positions opposite Forge Meadows in Ballon
20/7/14
Produce picked yesterday from the School/Community Garden
2/7/17
Breda and Marion take delivery of a Horse at Siopa Glas yesterday. Special delivery from Kilcullen!
1/7/14
Gerard Blanche takes a breather on his regular litter rounds. Picture taken in Breda Wray’s lovely roses.
24/6/14
Sixth class are put through their paces at Bicycle Day the 17th June at Ballon School and funded through Carlow County Council and Ballon Improvement Group.
6/6/04
The group had an unscheduled mini workshop on Composting with Pauline the manager of Altamont Gardens.
Among the many aspects of Biodiversity encountered on the walk was Swallows in Flight, Bumble Bees at work, Blackbird singing, Tadpoles swimming, Pond skaters, Lily Pads, Cow Parsley (queen annes lace), compost heap, five ducks, wasp, crows, red ladybirds, grey squirrel, robins, red and blue dragon flies, brown butterfly, spiders and ants.
A visit was also paid to the Dogs Graveyard where Mrs North’s Dogs were laid to rest.
Many thanks to the two teachers Helen and Bernie and the children for a fantastic experience. We all felt at one with nature this beautiful sunny afternoon.
The names of the children are Katie Kennedy, Emma Cummims, Laura McGrath, Khiara Egan, Kate Murphy, Maebh Ryan, Eamon Lalor, Adam Tobin, Andrew Syronodski, Oisín Ward, Keelan Kirk, Jake Sommers.
http://www.biodiversityinschools.com/
30/5/14
Community/School gardeners hard at work
26/5/14 – Dawn Chorus
Over fifty people joined in the celebration of the “worlds oldest wake up call” in Altamont Walled Garden on Sunday morning at 4.30am. Renouned bird lover and botanist Eanna Ní Lamhna from RTE1 was bean an ti guiding us through the different birdsongs as they filled the air. First came the Blackbird. Always first! Then the Thrush, followed by a Robin. The Chaffinch did not get left out and his melody was super. But we spotted the King of the Birds, the Wren up very close. He too is a singer of note. Then the true chorus took hold and the sounds were super as the light illuminated our beautiful surroundings.
The magical lanterns that led in the visitors set the scene and one was reluctant to leave and head over to the Forge for the early bird breakfast. Much thanks to the OPW, Robert of Altamont Plant Sales, Rosemarie of the Garden Café, Mary Jordan of the Forge, Ballon Improvement Group and everyone who came along and made our Dawn Chorus at Altamont 2014 a fantastic experience. Is Feidir linn!
23/5/14 BIG Press Release
Waste Minimisation – Read pdf Waste Minimisation
22/5/14
The railings on the ramp to the Lecky/Quaker graveyard repainted.
(Picture by Maire George)
14/5/14
New Flower bed by the barrack stream aka Dreekeen Stream and The Black Dyke
Come join in the following
Blank-Frog-Survey-card-2014
Waste Minimisation links
13/5/14
Ballon Improvement Group are delighted to welcome Myles Reilly and Liam Dowling to their team. Pictured here planting native ornamental shrubs on the Bunclody Rd..
Plants were supplied by Robert of Altamont Plant Sales.
17/4/14
Cancer support centre Carlow first newsletter
eistnewsletter_Final
9/4/14
New tunnel for organic school garden. Funded by agenda 21 through Carlow county council.
Thanks to the school parents who did the installation.
14/3/14
BIG jointly hosts a Ceili with the school for the BIG DAY coming
7/3/14
Will and Ian the Ballon Tus workers getting the compost heap turned at the organic school garden. They are preparing the site for new Poly-tunnel which is being funded by Agenda 21 funding through Carlow county council.
28/2/14
